The Big Walnut Joint Fire District are now featuring two new additions to their emergency response fleet.

BWJFD along with local residents, put the new engine and brush truck in service at the Marengo Station recently.

The need for the purchases became evident last year when the oldest trucks in the fleet began having structural issues that were beyond repair, leaving those units unavailable to respond to emergency calls. The remaining emergency vehicles had to be juggled between both stations in Marengo and Chesterville to accommodate the residents in our district.

To remedy the situation Big Walnut Joint Fire District Fire Chief Lauri Lovell approached the board with a truck replacement and purchase program.

Together, the BWJFD fireboard, Fire Chief and Truck Committee scheduled visits with multiple emergency apparatus manufacturers which included test driving demo vehicles, sorting through vehicle specifications and evaluating quotes.

The first purchase was a 2016 Sutphen Guardian Engine/Rescue from and manufactured by The Sutphen Corporation in Dublin, OH. Engine/Rescue 30 is equipped to transport six firefighters, 1000 gallons of water, fire suppression foam and compartments full of rescue and fire suppression equipment.

At the beginning of 2016, BWJFD was able to pay off the loan on the building, known as Station 39-1 located in Marengo, which freed up the funds for a loan on the new engine. ER 30 is designated as the first response vehicle out of the Marengo station for structure fires, vehicle fires, vehicle accidents and any other rescues that may arise.

The second purchase made was a 2016 Ford F350 Crew Cab brush unit from and manufactured by 1st Attack Engineering Inc. located in Waterloo, IN.

Brush 37 is equipped to transport five firefighters, 300 gallons of water, fire suppression foam, auto extrication tools along with other fire suppression tools. The primary use of B37 is to respond to vehicle accidents and fires that are not able to be accessed by a fire engine. The BWJFD Fire Board has saved the funds for the purchase of new vehicles.

The Big Walnut Joint Fire District covers 75 square miles in southern Morrow County and operates out of two stations in Marengo and Chesterville. BWJFD currently has 30 volunteers on the roster. The apparatus fleet now consists of three engine-rescues, one tanker, two brush truck units and a hazmat trailer.

Courtesy photo

The 2016 Sutphen Guardian Engine/Rescue from and manufactured by The Sutphen Corporation in Dublin, OH. Engine/Rescue 30 is equipped to transport six firefighters, 1000 gallons of water, fire suppression foam and compartments full of rescue and fire suppression equipment.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/09/web1_rund-2.jpgCourtesy photo

The 2016 Sutphen Guardian Engine/Rescue from and manufactured by The Sutphen Corporation in Dublin, OH. Engine/Rescue 30 is equipped to transport six firefighters, 1000 gallons of water, fire suppression foam and compartments full of rescue and fire suppression equipment.

Courtesy photo

Brush 37 is equipped to transport five firefighters, 300 gallons of water, fire suppression foam, auto extrication tools along with other fire suppression tools. The primary use of B37 is to respond to vehicle accidents and fires that are not able to be accessed by a fire engine. The BWJFD Fire Board has saved the funds for the purchase of new vehicles.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/09/web1_work-truck-2.jpgCourtesy photo

Brush 37 is equipped to transport five firefighters, 300 gallons of water, fire suppression foam, auto extrication tools along with other fire suppression tools. The primary use of B37 is to respond to vehicle accidents and fires that are not able to be accessed by a fire engine. The BWJFD Fire Board has saved the funds for the purchase of new vehicles.

Staff report